In yet another exclusive release, since the last time they were released, Union Square Records (I presume) carry on the long tradition of record labels throwing out any old crap at inflated prices to mark Record Store Day. Just what the world so desperately needed: yet another bloody Madness compilation. This time, above the sounds of the bottom of the barrel being well and truly scraped, it’s the band’s B-sides which are being chucked out, and listed by eBay muggers the very same day.

Yea, saw this the other day, thought the same. How many more times can they keep rehashing stuff, even if it is for record store day._________________The past is our knowledge, the present our mistake and the future we always leave too late.

Posted:
Thu Mar 08, 2018 2:56 pm

TrojanToo Hot

Joined: 25 Aug 2002Posts: 2314
Location: Area 3

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Major record labels killed any ideals there were behind the concept of Record Store Day by seeing it as just another excuse to release back catalogue at inflated prices. An independent record shop owner told me that the whole Record Store Day process cost hundreds of pounds to sign up to and there was no guarantee as to which release would be made available to each shop. ‘A fucking con’, were his exact words.

As for Madness chucking out yet another compilation......._________________Richard Eddington is innocent.

There have been a few nice releases: Sock It To 'Em JB (Dub), the Beat box with European sleeves, the Spaceape cover of Ghost Town. But the Madness releases have been disappointing to date, and a collection of early B sides is about as unnecessary and uninteresting as you can get.

And don't get me started on ebay with vastly inflated prices - why can people not order 1 copy online to avoid this if they are not near a participating store?

The fact that record shops have to pay so much to be part of the day seems to be against the very ethos of why it started in the first place. And the number of straight re-released just seems like a swindle. Speaking of which, how many times has RSD repackaged the Sex Pistols to date